Can-feeding means



M 1 1946- c. H. ABBOTT 2,399,087

CAN-FEEDING MEANS Filed may 2, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 23, 1946. c. H. ABBOTT CAN-FEEDING MEANS Filed May 2, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 grime/WM April 1946- c. H. ABBOTT CAN-FEEDING MEANS Filed May 2, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 1946- c. H. AB BOTT 2,399,087

I CAN-FEEDING MEANS Fi led May 2, 1944 4-She ets-'Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 23, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN-FEEDING MEANS Claude vH. Abbott, Astoria, Oreg.

Application May 2, 1944, Serial No. 533,759

16 Claims.

The invention relates to means for controlling the discharge of containers or other members from a runway which feeds a machine, and in the present disclosure, the invention controls the movement of-cans of milk from a roller type-runway into a milk can dumping machine. It is "to be understood, however, that such terms as can and can dumping hereinafter used, are illustrative rather than limiting the. invention to the feeding of cans or to the operation of can dumping.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedmech'anism for admitting the cans one at a time to the dumping means and checking the other cans on the runway while any can is being dumped. This involves the use of a can stop on the runway, and a further aim is to provide novel means controlled by the can dumping means for automatically moving said stop to operativeposition as any can enters said dumping means, and for automatically returning said stop to inoperative position when said dumpfang means is again in readiness for can recepion.

Another object is to provide simple, efiective and desirable can stopping and releasing means, whether actuated by part of the dumping means, .or otherwise.

The can dumping means includes a cradle tiltable from a can-receiving position to a candumping position and back to said receiving .position, and a still further object is to provide a novel elastic bumper against which said cradle comes to rest when it returns to said receiving position.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings. Y

Figure 1 is a perspective view :showing the invention associated with a can dumping machine of the type disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,351,731 of June '20, 1944. In this view, the cradle is shown in can-receiving position, the runway free from cans, and the can stop held in inoperative position to permit the first can to enter said cradle.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the relation of elements as one canenters the cradle. Note that the can stop occupiesits operative position and holds the next can in check while the preceding can is entering the cradle.

Figure 3 is aperspective view showing the next can still held while the preceding'can is being dumped, and illustrating the stop operating means :in readiness to move said stop back to the inoperative position of Fig. 1 as the cradle returns to can-receiving position.

Figs. 4 and 5are disassembled detail perspective views showing the can stop and its operating means.

Fig. 6 is a detail longitudinal sectional view showing the bumper against which the cradle comes to rest as it moves to can-receiving position.

Preferred features of construction have been illustrated and will be rather specifically described, with the understanding, however, that within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

The can-dumping machine with which the invention is associated, includes a cradle HI secured to a suitably mounted rock shaft H .for tilting movement from the can-receiving position of Fig. 1 to the can-dumping position of Fig. 3.

The can-dumping movement of the cradle is effected by two cooperating arms l2 and [3, a piston l4 connected to the arm 13, and a hydraulic cylinder 15 receiving said piston. Entrance of fluid to the cylinder I5 and exhaust of fluid therefrom, are controlled .by a valve I 6, said valve having an actuating shaft I'I operable partly by a handle 18 and partly by cooperating members I9 and '20 on the two shafts H and I1. All of the parts ll] to 20 inclusive are disclosed in my U. S. patent above I identified and need not, therefore, be explained in detail. It may be stated, however, that when the handle I8 is moved in a proper direction after a can is positioned in the cradle ID, the piston I4 operates the arms l2 and I3 to tilt .said cradle to the can dumping position of Fig. 3, the parts 13 and M returning to their normal position while the can contents are being discharged. The can is of course taken from the cradle by hand and this cradle then returns by gravity to can-receiving position.

.A can runway 2] extends to the cradle Ill and includes side bars 22 and 23 and can-supporting .rollers extending between said side bars. Two of these rollers v24 .are spaced apart a somewhat greater distance than the normal roller spacing, and the .last roller 25 is somewhat below the plane of the other rollers to cause the can to tilt forwardly as it enters the cradle I0 as seen in Fig.2. This tilting causes the rear part of the can to rise from the hereinafter described can stop, giving the latter room to turn to its operative position before the next can arrives. The roller 25 is depressibly mounted, at least at one end. In the present showing, one end 25 of its shaft is loosely held non-rotatably in an opening 26 in the side bar 23 (see Fig. and its other end 25 is vertically movable in a vertical slot 27 in the side bar 22. This shaft end 25 is supported by an arm 28 at the inner side of the side bar 22, said arm being secured to the inner end of a short rock shaft 29 which is mounted in an appropriate bearing 30 secured to said bar 22. The outer end of this rock shaft 29 carries an other arm 3| also secured to said shaft, and suitably secured to this arm 3! is an upstanding yoke 32. A tension spring 31 is suitably connected with the arm 3| to normally swing this arm downwardly, thereby turningthe rock shaft 29 and swinging the arm 28 upwardly to position the shaft end 25 of the roller 25 in the upper end of the slot 21 as seen in Figs. 1 and 3. When a can enters the cradle H) as shown in Fig. 2, it depresses the depressibly mounted end of the roller 25 as seenin Fig. 2, causing the parts 28, 29, 3| and 32 to move as shown in the last mentionedfigure, for a purpose to appear.

A rockably mounted can stop 33 is mounted between the upwardly diverging upper portions of the two rollers 24 and is turnable to the inoperative position shown in Fig. l and to the operative position shown in Figs; 2 andtf, in which latter position it will stop cans of various sizes. This stop 33 is preferably formed from a-length of shafting with part of its diameter cut away at 34 and its ends turned'down to provide trunnions 35 and 36 which pass rotatably through suitable openin s 31 in the side bars 22 and 23. Secured to the trunnion 35 at the outer side of the bar 22, is a disk 38. Pivoted to this disk 38 is adog 39 to which a tension spring his suit- The dog 39 is provided with a lateral projection 42 which preferably consists of a rectangular block rotatably mounted on a stud 43 projecting from said dog. To limit the movement of the 'dog 39, the inner end of the pin 43 may well be received in a slot 43 in the disk 38, as seen in Fig. 4. A longitudinal link 44 which is actuated by the cradle Ill, is provided with a hook 45 cooperable with the projection 42. In the present disclosure, the link 44 is pivoted to a short arm 46 on the cradle shaft I I, said armbeing sopositioned that the link 44 moves rearwardly as in Fig. 3 while a can is being dumped, and-moves forwardly while the cradle l 0 is returning to canreceiving position. Each time the link 44 is moved forwardly, its hook 45 pulls upon the projection 42 of the dog 39, thus first releasing this dog from the abutment 4| and then turning the disk 38 to rock the can stop 33 from its operative position (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) to the inoperative position of Fig. 1. Thus, with the cradle I D in readiness for can'reception, the stop 33 cannot interfere with a can moving along the runway 21 and into said cradle. As the can enters the cradle, however, (Fig. 2) it depresses the depressibly mounted end of the roller 25 and thus moves the elements 28, 29, 3| and 32 to the positions shown in Fig. 2. The link 44 passes through the yoke 32 and when the movements of parts lust men tioned occur, this yoke tilts said link 44 upwardly. This link movement disengages the hook 45 from the projection 42, and the spring 40 immediately pulls upon the dog 39 to rock the disk 38 and turn the stop 33 to the operative position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in which position, it is held by the engagement of the dog 39 with the abutment 4!. It will thus be seen that as a can enters the cradle ID, the stop 33 is automatically moved to its operative position to hold the next can in check while the one can is being dumped. The dumping movement of this can again moves the link 44 rearwardly and its hook 45 again engages the projection 42 of the dog 39. Therefore, as the cradle l0 returns to the can-receiving position of Fig. 1, the link 44 and associated parts again inclined rod 48 (Fig. 6) is welded or otherwise secured to said bar 41. A length of rubber hose 49 surrounds the rod 48 and bears at one end against the bar 41. The other end of thepiece of hose projects beyond the rod 48 and acts as a bumper against which the cradle l 0 comes to rest when it reaches its can-receiving position.

From the foregoing, taken .in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the objects of the invention, and while preferences have been disclosed, attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations withinthe scope of the invention. as claimed.

I claim: p

1. A machine of the class described comprising a can cradle movable repeatedly from a can-recalving position to a can-discharge position and back to said receiving position, a can runway extending to said cradle, a can stop mounted near the delivery end of said runway for movement from an inoperative position to an operative position and vice versa, a' link operatively connected with and actuated by said cradle, said link being movable in onedirection as said cradle moves to said can-receiving position and being movable in the other direction as said cradle moves to said can-discharge position, means for releasably connecting said link with said stop during the movement of said link in said one direction to cause the link to move said stop to said inoperative position to allow a can to enter said cradle from said runway, means actuated by said can when entering said cradle for disconnecting said link from said stop, and means for moving said stop to said operative position when said link-isdisconnected from said stop.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a can cradle movable repeatedly from a can-receiving position to a can-discharge position and back to said receiving position, a can runway extending to said cradle, a rockably mounted can stop extending transversely of said runway and rockable from .an inoperative position to an openative position and vice versa, a dog movably mounted on one end of said stop and a fixed abutment with which said dog is cooperable to hold said stop in operative position, a link operatively connected with. and actuated by said cradle, said link being movable in one direction as said cradle moves-to said can-reoeivingposisaid cradle moves to said can-discharge position,

ahook on said link engageable with said dog when said link has been moved in said other di{ rection by the movement of the cradle to said can-discharge position, said link and hook being operative to first release said dog and then rock said stop to said inoperative position as said cradle returns to said can-receiving position, whereby another can. may enter said cradle,

means actuated by the latter can for tilting said.

erative position and vice versa, a member secured j on one' end of said stop, a dog movably mounted on saidmemben'a fixed abutment engageable by,

saiddog to hold said stop in said operative posi tion, a spring connected with said dog and opera tive'both to'rock said stop to said operative position and to engage said dog with said abutment, said dog having a lateral projection by means of w-hich it maybe released and moved in a direction to rock said stop to said inoperative position, a link operatively connected with said cradle and actuated thereby, said link being movable in one direction as said cradle moves to said canreceiving position and movable in the other direction as said cradle moves to said can-discharge position, said link having a hook engageable with said lateral projection of said dog when said link has been moved in said other direction by the movement of said cradle to said can-discharge position, said link, hook and projection being 0;)- erative to first release said dog and then rock said stop to said inoperative position as said cradle returns to said can-receiving position, whereby another can may enter said cradle, and means actuated by the latter can for tilting said link to release said hook from said lateral projection, whereby said spring may return said stop to said operative position and re-engage said dog with said abutment.

4. A machine of the class described comprisin a can cradle movable repeatedly rrom a can-receiving position to a can-discharge position and back to said receiving position, a can runway extending to said cradle, said runway having cansupporting rollers the last one of which i depressibly mounted, a can stop near the delivery end of said runway, stop-actuating means for operating said stop in timed relation with the movements of said cradle, said stop-actuating means including a releasable member, and releasing means for said releasable member connected with said depressibly mounted roller and actuated ,by depression of this roller.

5. A machine of the class described comprising a can cradle movable repeatedly froma canreceiving position to a can-discharge position and back to said receiving position, a can runway extending to said cradle, said runway having cansupporting rollers, a spring-raised arm supporting one end of the last one of said rollers and permitting depression thereof by a can entering end of said runway, zstop-aactuating-means for operating said stop in timed relation with the movements of said cradle, said stop-actuating means including a releasable member, and releasing means for said releasable member connected with and actuatedby said rockably mounted shaft.

6; A structure as specified in claim 2; said canactuated link tilting 1 means including a yoke through whichsaid link extends slidably, a canactuated member, and connecting means from said can-actuated member to said yoke.

7. In a machine of the class described, a can runway, a rockably mounted can stop extending transversely of said runway for rocking movement from an inoperative position to an operative position andvice versa, a dog'movably mountedon one end of said can stop, and a fixed abutment cooperable with said dog for holding said can stop against accidental movement from said operative position, said dog being releasable from said abutment to free said stop for movement to inoperative position.

8. Inamachine-of the class' described, a can runway, a rockably mounted can stop extending transversely of said runway for rocking movement from an inoperative position to an operative'position and vice versa, amember secured to one end of said can stop, a dog movably mounted on said member, and a fixed abutment cooperable with said dog to hold said can stop against accidental movement from said operative position, said dog having a lateral projection by means of v which said dog may be released and said stop rocked to said inoperative position.

9. A structure as specified in claim 8; together with a spring connected with said dog and operative both to restore said stop to said operative position and to engage said dog with said abutment.

10. In a machine of the class described, a can runway, said runway having can-supporting rollers, the last one of which is depressibly mounted for depression by a can leaving the runway, a can stop associated with said runway and mounted for movement to and from operative position, and actuating means for said stop including said depressibly mounted last roller.

11. In a machine of the class described, a can runway, a can stop associated with said runway and mounted for movement from an operative position to an inoperative position and vice versa, operating means for said stop including a reciprocable link and means for releasably connecting said link with said stop to move the latter to'one of said positions, a link-releasing member movably mounted adjacent said link, and can-actuated means for moving said link-releasing member to release said link from said stop.

12. In a machine of the class described, a can runway having can-supporting rollers, a can stop associated with said runway and mounted for movement from an operative position to an inoperative position and vice versa, operating means for said stop including a reciprocable link and means for releasably connecting said link with said stop to move the latter to one of said positions, a vertically swingable arm on which one end of one of said rollers is mounted, a rock shaft to which said arm is secured, means for biasing said rock shaft in a direction to normally hold said one end of said one of said rollers against depression, and link-releasing means connected with and actuated'by said rock shaft for releasing said link from said stop when said rock shaft is turned by depression of said one end of said one of said rollers.

13. In a machine of the class described, a can runway having can-supporting rollers, a can stop associated with said runway and mounted for movement from an operative position to an inoperative position and vice versa, a vertically swingable arm on which one end of one of said rollers is mounted, a rock shaft to which'said arm is secured, means for biasing said rock shaft in a direction to normally hold said one end of said one of said rollers against depression, a second arm secured to said rock shaft, operating means for said stop including a reciprocable link and means for releasably connecting said link with said stop to move the latter to one of said positions, and a link-releasing member secured to said second arm and having a portion to thrust against said link to release said link from said stop when said rock shaft is. turned by-depression of said one end of said one of said rollers.

14. A structure as specified in claim 11; said link-releasing member being a yoke through which said link extends slidably.

15. In a machine of the class described, a can runway, said runway having can-supporting rollers, the last one of which is depressibly mounted, whereby a can leaving said runway will depress said roller and tilt forwardly, thereby raising the rear portion of the can bottom from the runway, a can stop mounted for movement into the space directly under said raised rear portion of the can bottom to abut a can behind and contacting with a tilted can, and operating means for said stop including said depressibly mounted last roller.

16. In a machine'of the class described, a can runway having parallel roller-supporting bars and can-supporting rollers extending from one of said bars to the other and supported by said bars, the last one of said rollers being depressibly mounted, whereby a can leaving said runway will depress said roller and tilt forwardly, thereby raising the rear portion of the can bottom from the rimway, and a rockable stop shaft extending from one of said bars to the other and supported .by said bars, said stop shaft being located in the space between the upwardly diverging upper portions of two of said rollers and being mounted for movement into the space directly under. said raised rear portion of the can bottom to abut a-can behind and contact with a tilted can, said stop shaft having a stop portion which projects above said rollers when said stop shaft is turned to one-position and occupies a position below the tops of said rollers when said stop shaft is turned to another position, said stop portion being between said bars and being elongated longitudinally of said stop shaft to stop cans of various sizes, and operating means for said stop shaft 30 including said depressibly mounted last roller.

CLAUDE H. ABBOTT. 

